Restaurant to Another World: Chapter 2
By: jungleboy69
Chapter 2: Meeting the Team
The Master led the friends through the staff meeting room, which was a large white room with a conference table at the center. "This is the meeting room for all the employees here." He explained. "We can discuss new recipes for the restaurant."
"How many employees do you have?" Hiro asked. "At least 7 and all of them, teens like you." The Master added. "I've asked them here to meet you." "There're split into two divisions; one in charge of cooking and the other in charge of service." He explained.
"What are they like?" Akiko asked. "Oh, they're just ordinary teens like you." The Master replied. "I'm sure you'll guys will fit in just fine." The door opened and 7 teens entered inside. Four were dressed in chef's uniforms while three were dressed as waiters/waitresses "You called us, Master?" A spiky haired boy with chestnut brown eyes asked.
His eyes widened when he saw Akiko. "Akiko, what are you doing here?" He asked, making the girl gasp. "Yamato, you're working here?!" Akiko gasped. "You know each other?" The Master asked. "Yamato is my cousin, the son of my uncle, Masamoto" She explained.
"Oh great, you're here too." Another girl with short black hair spoke up. "Emi, what are you doing here?!" Akiko exclaimed. "Isn't it oblivious?" Emi replied, nonchalantly. "I'm working here as a waitress."
"Any way..." The Master spoke up. "They are our newest employees in the restaurant." "New employees?" A boy with a shaven head, dark eyes and high cheekbones scoffed. "We're already more than enough, we don't need these rookies..."
"Kazuki...be nice" Another boy with clean, smooth hair and green eyes suggested. "Things are rather busy these days and we can always use more helping hands." "Don't be so sure, Tenzin." A girl with a spiky bob of hair and blue eyes added. "How do we know if they're capable?"
"We can work as waiters," Hiro replied. "or as cooks; my mother and grandfather taught me some recipes." Kazuki snorted. "That just proves you're not fit to work here." He replied. "You'll just bring trouble for us." Hiro grew offended by this remark
"Kazuki, that's enough!" The Master replied, sternly. "You shouldn't judge people from their looks." The former scoffed and looked away. "Speaking of which, I would like to the two divisions in the restaurant." The Master added to the three newcomers
"This is the Chef's Division led by Yamato with his team; Subaro, Miyuki and Tenzin." He introduced. "This is the Service Division led by Emi with her team; Kazuki and Benkei." "To start off, why don't we give you three a trial run?" He suggested. "Let's see if you are capable."
"Thank you, sir!" Akiko replied, cheerfully. "We won't let you down." The Master smiled. "Well, we have extra uniforms in the storeroom." Tenzin replied. "You can get changed." "Thanks!" Yori added, cheerfully as he and the others got ready.
"I still think this is a waste of time." Kazuki snorted. "Just give them a chance." Subaro advised. "We won't know unless we see for ourselves."
(5 min later...)
"We're ready!" Hiro called as he and Yori emerged, wearing two waiter uniforms with black bow ties, black vest and long pants. "You look perfect!" Tenzin pointed out, chuckling. "Thanks!" Yori replied, straightening his vest proudly.
"Not bad..." Emi added. "At least you're dressed for the part." "All that's left is little Aki..." She chuckled. "I'm here!" A voice called out and the others turned to see Akiko, dressed in a waitress uniform with a wide skirt, slightly puffy sleeves and white stocking.
"Woah..." Hiro whispered, entranced. "Akiko, you...look beautiful." This got Yamato's attention and he frowned. "Do you like it?" Akiko asked as she twirled around, making her skirt flare up a bit. "You look great!" Yori replied, getting her to blush.
"If you're done with the compliments," Emi pointed out. "get ready, the lunch hour is starting." "Alright now!" The Master declared, clapping his hands. "Those customers are getting hungry, so let's get to work!" "Emi, you'll be overseeing the new recruits!" He added.
"Alright, rookie!" Kazuki exclaimed. "Let's see what you're made off!"
(5 hours later...)
The next hours were hectic; Yori, Akiko and Hiro went around the customers, writing down orders and bringing out the food. Just as Emi said, the lunch hour was the busiest hour of the day. Many customers arrived every minute and the orders kept coming.
Hiro was amazed at how many customers kept arriving. He had never noticed how many people came to Nekoya, now he was starting to understand how the Master felt catering to all this people and why Nekoya is so famous.
During the break, Hiro, Yori and Akiko were in the small kitchen, having some bentos. "I can see why Nekoya is so popular..." Yori panted, wiping his brow with a handkerchief. "Are you feeling, okay?"
"I'm feeling fine." Akiko replied. "What about you, Hiro?" "A little sweaty..." Hiro explained. "But proud." "When I first came here, I was about 5 years old with my grandfather." He told them. "What was your grandfather like?" Akiko asked.
Hiro smiled. "He was kind, friendly, open-minded..." He replied. "He was the one who taught me how to cook along with my mom." "He also taught me some fighting skills to defend myself," He added. "and he tells the best stories."
"Sounds like you two are really close." Akiko pointed out with a smile. "We were, it has been over two weeks since he passed away." Hiro added with a forlorn expression. "You would have loved to meet him." "I'm sorry about your loss." Yori replied. "Is that why you came to work here?"
Hiro nodded. "Being in Nekoya reminds me off all the happy times my grandfather and I had." He explained. "He may be gone, but I know he's always watching over me." Akiko smiled. "Wise words." She pointed out before she noticed something around Hiro's neck.
"What's that?" She asked. Hiro took out his key to show it to them. "It's something my grandpa gave me just after my first time in Nekoya." He explained. "He told me that it would unlock many secrets." "What's it for?" Yori asked.
"I'm not sure." Hiro replied. "I never knew what door or box it opens..." "My grandfather said that it is the gateway to a whole new world...or whatever that means." He added, sighing before putting the key underneath his shirt.
"Congratulations!" A voice called and the three friends turned to see Tenzin grinning at them. "You guys survived the lunch hour!" "How goes your trial?" He asked. "I feel like my feet are about to fall off." Yori replied, groaning a bit.
"Well, get used to it." Tenzin told them. "That's what it's going to be for your summer job." "That's up for the boss to decide." Kazuki spoke up as he joined. "I still think they're just rookies." "Kazuki..." Tenzin spoke.
"We already have more than enough workers here!" Kazuki added, gruffly. "We don't need those greenhorns to slow us down!" He smirked at Akiko who grew a bit uncomfortable at his expression. "Unless they're willing to give us something...in exchange."
Akiko gulped audibly as Kazuki snickered sinisterly. *WHACK!* "Ow!" Kazuki yelled as Miyuki whacked him on the head with a rolled-up newspaper. "Don't get any funny ideas!" She snapped crossly.
"What?!" Kazuki shot back, rubbing his head. "I was just kidding!" "Yeah right!" Miyuki scoffed. "I know what you were thinking about, pervert!" "Oh, shut it!" Kazuki yelled. "At least, I prefer big breasted girls than a flat chest like you!"
The room fell silent, as the temperature seemed to drop. Tenzin, Akiko, Hiro and Yori wisely backed off as Kazuki registered what he said and grew pale when Miyuki's eyes became shadowed, and her fists began to tremble. "I-I-I'm sorry..." He muttered. "I d-didn't mean..."
Miyuki just smiled before she folded up her newspaper in a large paper fan and held it up. "Flat chest...huh?" She asked in a sickly-sweet tone.
(5 mins later...)
"Alright!" The Master spoke as he came into the kitchen. "After watching you during the lunch hour, I-" He stopped when he saw a panting Miyuki holding up a paper fan and Kazuki, curled up in a fetal position with red cheeks and bumps on his head.
He sighed before turning to Tenzin. "Let me guess, Kazuki commented on Miyuki's chest again?" He asked. Tenzin nodded. "Afraid so, Master." He replied. "Is...he...alright?" Yori timidly asked as he and the others looked on.
"He'll be fine..." The Master assured him. "He's lucky, though; Miyuki was not as forgiving as the last time when he called her that 'word'." He chuckled as Tenzin helped Kazuki up. "Anyway, I've made a decision." He pointed out. "You three are hired!"
"Really!?" Akiko asked in response. "Yep!" The Master replied with a smile. "You proved that you can handle the customers easily, you all got the job." "So, when do we start?" Hiro asked. "Actually, due to the number of employees here; I'll have to assign you different shifts for different days each week." The Master explained.
"We don't mind." Akiko replied. "We're just grateful we have a job for the summer." The Master chuckled. "Alright, here will be your schedule." He explained. "Akiko, you'll take the afternoon shifts will be on Monday and Wednesday." He stated. "Yori, your shifts will be on Tuesday and Thursday."
"As for you, Hiro." He added. "You will take the shift on Saturday." "Hey, wait a minute?!" Kazuki yelled. "What does he get to work one day?!" "Emi already works here on Friday." The Master replied. "Besides, the customers on Saturdays are usually from overseas."
Kazuki snorted. "Well, what's wrong with that?" He replied. "We're fine handling 'gaijins' here." The Master frowned deeply at that. "First of all, I do not tolerate that word in my restaurant." He warned. "Hai, Master." Kazuki relented, albeit reluctantly.
"Second, this kind of attitude is exactly why I chose Hiro." He added. "The customers are not used to Japanese folk like us, and I know you and some of the employees are not really accepting to foreigners." "You got that right." Tenzin muttered, getting Kazuki to glare at him.
"Finally, it was his grandfather who asked me to arrange for it." The others grew surprised. "My grandpa?" Hiro asked. The Master nodded. "Yeah, he told me that if you came for a job here, you would be given the weekend shift on Saturday." He explained.
"How is that fair?" Miyuki asked, just as upset. "Why does the rookie gets to work one day while the rest of us work three days a week?" "Look, that was what his grandfather told me." The Master replied. "He wanted it to be a part of his training."
"Did you know about this?" Akiko asked, curiously to Hiro. "No." The latter replied. "Grandfather never told me about this, the only reason I decided to work here was because it was our favorite place to eat."
"Well, your grandfather had a habit of keeping secrets." The Master replied, with a smile. "And you're in luck; it's Saturday tomorrow and your first day on the job." "So, you best get ready for your big day." He added.
Hiro could only nod dumbly. Little did he know about the amazing adventure he would have.